Baker Proud Spring 2017 - 8

Special Bond

1970s

Nikki Armbruster Deal with her
undergraduate advisor and
current dean of the School of
Professional and Graduate
Studies, Dr. Jacob Bucher, earned
her MBA in December 2016-two
months after Bucher officiated her
wedding ceremony.

1980s

Nikki Armbruster Deal, '10, MBA '16. Baldwin
City had a similar feel to her hometown of Lindsborg, Kansas, and was a comfortable choice. But
choosing a major was more difficult until she took
her first sociology class, and Dr. Jacob Bucher became her academic advisor.
As a sociology major, Deal appreciated that in
addition to the normal course work, faculty also
prepared her and other students for the demands
of graduate school, including the application process.
So when Deal decided to go back to school and earn a graduate degree,
she not only felt prepared, but she also knew she wanted to enroll somewhere that was close to her heart. She decided to attend Baker University
once again.
"I was just comfortable with Baker because it was something familiar.
I had a very positive experience during my undergraduate years, so I figured that I would have a positive experience going through Baker for my
master's as well," she said.
Deal and Dr. Bucher stayed in touch throughout her graduate program.
When she attended his "Last Lecture" in May 2016, engaged to her fiance,
Jesse, Deal was reminded of how much passion and preparation Bucher
puts into his lectures. So the couple decided to ask Bucher to officiate
their wedding.
"I figured he's lectured me on just about everything else, so why not
marriage?" she asked. "I thought Dr. Bucher might think it was a strange
request. But it turned out he loved the idea and really wanted to do it!"
The couple was married in October of 2016. Just a couple of months
later, in December, she graduated with her Master of Business Administration. And when the time came for her to walk across the commencement
stage and receive her diploma, Dr. Bucher was there to cheer her on and
to participate in her hooding.

Cheryl Brown Henderson, '70, was
unanimously confirmed as a member of the
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
Board of Directors.
Alex Gonzalez, '83, was named the chief
marketing officer for Leisure Pools and
Spas Manufacturing. He leads branding
and marketing and is responsible for development of new corporate showrooms and
for expansion of the international network of
professional dealers for the world's largest
producer of fiberglass pools, spas, and
water elements.
Philip Gronemeyer, '81, creates unique
woodworking and handcrafted gifts for his
Gronemeyer Gallery shop. His creations
can be seen at facebook.com/gronemeyergallery.
Gwenn Pike, '80, was selected as a 2016
National Coach of the Year by the National
Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association for her
work with the volleyball team at Bishop
Miege High School in Fairway, Kansas. A
member of Baker's Athletic Hall of Fame,
Pike recently retired from a 36-year coaching career at Bishop Miege that included
more 2,100 match wins and 21 state championships.
Steve Robertson, '86, was named Kansas
City Interscholastic Administrators Association Athletic Director of the Year. He was
honored at the Missouri Interscholastic
Athletic Administrators Association conference. Robertson has been a teacher and
coach in the Grandview School District for
29 years and served as the athletic director
for the last 14 years.

http://www.facebook.com/gronemeyergallery http://www.facebook.com/gronemeyergallery

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Baker Proud Spring 2017